Last night we fought this very interesting and fast-paced game involving British forces against the mighty Zulu army.
This is the scenario,Paul,Graham and Dave were the Zulu commanders,and Brian and I were the hapless British commanders!!
On the first move,Brian had to make a decision,as he was in charge of the relief column,either to keep going and rescue the soldier being held in the kraal,fall back to the relative safety of the camp,or occupy the hill on his left flank.............................
The decision was partly made for him,as his Sikali Horse and his NNC,took one look at the advancing Zulu horde and "bolted"-never to be seen again!!-so he retired back to the camp!!
Whilst Brian's troops are making their way back to the camp,shouting "sod you private Spottyface!", Dave is attacking the West face of the camp,and taking a right old "pasting" for his audacity-hurrah!!
Both companies,and the artillery are now joining in the fun-this is a walk in the park for the British(you just know what's coming don't you?)
In the background you can see that Graham's right horn is attacking the East face of the camp,and Brian is putting up a stout defence,but is coming under serious pressure from superior numbers!!
Oh dear!! and it's getting worse-Paul has decided,at last, to start moving the Chest in the direction of the South face of the camp!! -"why us?-'cos we're here lad,there's nobody else!!"
OMG! despite brave resistance,the Zulus have broken into the camp,and Paul's chest is attacking in earnest,the South face-Brian is fighting for his little leaden life,on the east face,but all is not lost-we can always sing a rousing chorus of "men of Harlech!!"-that'll teach them!!!!
Coffee time,and despite what I put in the drinks,things are still looking grim!!-Paul is even bringing up the Zulu reserve!!
"I wish to report a disastrous engagement with the enemy,who attacked in overwhelming numbers.........................."
This final shot shows it all!!
Well done lads another great game(if you were Zulu Commanders!) roll on next Sunday.
Aren't hedgehogs cute??
This Sunday coming I have planned a grand Zulu game,so thought I would share the scenario and a few photographs to whet your appetite.........................
Scenario and notes to the British commanders(2)
Table before any Zulus are on it!!
Top photo shows the rescue column approaching the kraal,bottom photo shows the view from the kraal.
The Zulus have arrived!!!-left horn is making its way to their designated position,as is the right horn,centre and reserves!!!!-this is going to be bloody!
Chest,awaiting orders to attack,but not before the horns are in position!
The right horn-doesn't the rescue column look vulnerable????
This is all your fault,private Spottyface!!!!
Roll on Sunday.
I have been trying to cajole/coerce the "boys" into coming up with scenarios for their WW2 and Napoleonic figures for the past few weeks,but I have come to the conclusion that it would be easier to convert the Pope to Islam!! To this effect,I put on a WW2 game last night,using my plastic,54mm "Modern" troops and tanks,but converting my tanks to WW2 types(Mk4,Shermans,Tiger etc. etc.) and using Dave's rules with the added adaptation of alternate moves!!
This is the scenario,Paul and Dave were the Scots,whilst Graham and Brian were the Russians.
The two photo's show the terrain and deployment before any movement.
Both sides came up with a battle plan,and away we went-Scots getting to move first!
These two shots show the game in full swing-Brian has managed to out-flank Paul in the village,and the Scot's centre is being threatened!
Two more shots showing explosions and tank on fire(ie knocked out!) and the bunker under serious attack by the Russians-Dave is making copious notes and adjustments to his rules-which is what the game was all about!
Having taken the right flank,Brian is now directing HE(high Explosive) fire on Dave's infantry in the woods-things are not looking good for the Scots!!!
Brian's squad of infantry are about to join Graham in the final push against the bunker.
The bunker is in Russian hands,and the game is over!-I can't get excited about WW2 but this was an interesting and exciting game to watch.Dave is going to re-write his rules in an easy-to-follow format,incorporating the things that came up in this game,so it won't be long until we have another (proper!) WW2 battle.(cajole/coerce!!)
Roll on next Sunday-don't know what we'll be playing-any suggestions "boys"???????
All superlatives have been used on previous year's reports on Carronade,so I can only say that this year's show was,once again,superb in all aspects.
The hospitality shown by the organisers,punters and traders was excellent.
We arrived on the Friday afternoon and set up the game we were playing(Battle of Bairen 1097-El Cid vs Moors) so that we could arrive fresh faced and rested on the Saturday morning-this also gave us time to look around before the punters came in!!
I didn't ask,but there seemed to be more traders this year,selling everything that any wargamer could want,the car-parking was free,and the cafe was doing a roaring trade from the word "go"
I won't bore you with too much text,I will let the photo's do the talking!!......................
Friday afternoon,traders are arriving,and we are "itching" to get our table sorted,so we can get to the pub!!
Table sorted-in double quick time-good organisation and planning!!!
At the pub-Graham joined us this year,but Brian and Michael couldn't make it-a real pity,because we had such a good time-why doesn't anybody offer to take my photo? a selfie will have to do!!!!!!!
HIC!!!
The doors have opened and the flood of "gamers" all eager to spend,are milling about-our table attracted alot of old and new friends,all asking about our rules,club,figures etc.-as usual we did more talking than playing,but this year we said we would try and play the game to a conclusion!!
A shot of our game in full swing-but still we are talking to anyone who showed any interest-and that is what it's all about!
There were some fantastic games on show,too many to photograph,but covering every historical period,as well as fantasy and futuristic-marvellous stuff!
There were the usual characters as well,old and young,we even saw Captain America!!!!!!
See,I told you!!-what was missing(thank God) this year,was those lovely chaps often referred to as "the smellies"-perhaps they have found a new hobby(please!!)
It's mid-afternoon,and the hall is thinning out,but we are still playing and drawing some attention-Paul and I were the Moors whilst Dave and Graham were El Cid and Pedro,the Spanish.
The end!! and a resounding victory to the Moors(history turned on its head again!)
We packed up in double quick time and headed back to the Pub!!
Sitting in the sun-shine in our GERANIUM RED shirts,prior to our evening meal and a couple of beers(a couple????) and then it's back to England on Sunday morning.
One last shot as we are leaving the Travlelodge at Bean Cross!
Our sincere thanks to all the guys at Falkirk for such a good event-as "Arnie" says-we'll be back!!!
Last night we had a full turn-out for this fascinating game of two halves!!
This is the scenario and initial troop dispositions-Graham and Dave were the Saxon and Viking commanders whilst Brian and Paul were the Normans-all was set for a classic attack/defence game.
Top photo shows Graham's attack,by the Fyrd, against Paul's troops in the village,bottom shows Dave's attack on Brian's troops coming out of the castle-colourful stuff!
The Fyrd are in the village,but the Normans are fighting back!-in the background you can see Paul's reserves taking up their positions,awaiting the Huscarls advance-this was tense wargaming,at its best.
On the other flank,there was a tremendous tussle going on,first Dave was winning,then Brian was winning,each side reinforcing where necessary-what a game!!
Back at he village-it was "Hokey Cokey" wargaming(in,out,in,out,shake it all about!!!)
The Saxon Huscarls and Norman reserves are about to slug it out-Paul's magnificent defence was matched by Graham's tenacity.
This shot,taken from behind the village,shows the state of play towards the end of the game-although heavily out-numbered,the Normans are holding on-just!!!
Even with the intervention of the Cavalry,Brian's line is being broken up by successive Viking attacks,and is about to collapse-this could spell the end for Norman occupation in Northern Britain!!
Yes,despite Paul's defensive posture,it was all over-the village was in Saxon hands,and the castle was about to be entered by Viking hordes-a "cracking" game full of "nip and tuck" wargaming,good banter,very bad language and lots of wind!!(in the Viking sails of course!)
On Friday we start our annual invasion of Scottish hospitality,by putting on a game at Carronade(Falkirk)-we are all of an age when we don't really get excited about anything,but this three day trip gives us a chance to let our hair down(what hair??) have a good wargame in congenial company,meet new and existing friends,and encourage the general public to participate in our wonderful hobby-a full report will follow next Monday.
